Standardization of Herbal Drugs: Need of the Day for Global Competition

Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM)/Traditional Medicine (TM) have grown globally. The world market for botanical medicines including drug products and raw materials has been estimated to have an annual growth rate between 5-15 percent. Total botanical global market is estimated as US$ 62 billion and is expected to grow to the tune of US$ 5 trillion by 2050. Since time immemorial, plants and natural products have provided solutions to many difficult questions the human race has faced. Nature has provided prescriptions for various diseases.

Chemo profiling using HPLC, HPTLC and GC has wide applicability in quality control of herbal medicine. Multi-component botanical formulations can be standardized by using these sophisticated techniques. Spectroscopic analysis has also been suggested by certain pharmacopoeias for analysis of botanicals. Scientifically validated and technologically standardized botanical medicines will play an important role in future advancement in healthcare. Development of parameters for standardization and quality control of botanicals is a challenging task. Various regulatory authorities, research organizations and botanical drug manufactures have contributed in developing guiding principles addressing issues related to their quality, safety and efficacy.